Singapore Airlines adds South America to its network

Launching of Singapore - Sao Paolo route marks airline’s landing to fast-growing continent.

Singapore Airlines will add a sixth continent to its route network in March 2011 with the launch of thrice-weekly flights between Singapore and the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, via Barcelona in Spain.

Sao Paulo will be the Airline’s first South American destination. A dynamic metropolis, Brazil’s largest city is an arts and entertainment centre as well as an influential player in the areas of commerce and finance within the region.

Flights will operate between Barcelona and Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport under codeshare arrangements with Star Alliance partner Spanair. The codeshare will help facilitate travel from Spanair’s network to Sao Paulo through its Barcelona hub. SIA already adds its code to Spanair domestic flights between Barcelona and Bilbao, Madrid and Palma Mallorca.

“We are very excited about this new service which will help boost ties between Singapore and Brazil and pave the way for enhanced trade, tourism and travel links between Asia and South America. It will also provide a direct link between Barcelona and Sao Paulo,” said Mr Bey Soo Khiang, Singapore Airlines’ Senior Executive Vice President Marketing & Corporate Services, according to a Singapore Airlines report.

“Singapore Airlines has been eyeing opportunities in the fast-growing South American market for some time. We are pleased to be able to add a sixth continent to our route network and be the only airline offering direct flights between Southeast Asia and Brazil.”

Singapore Airlines currently flies daily between Singapore and Barcelona via Milan in Italy. With the new service, three of the flights will operate non-stop between Singapore and Barcelona while four will continue to operate on a Singapore-Milan-Barcelona routing. To ensure that both Barcelona and Milan will continue to be served seven times per week, thrice-weekly non-stop Singapore-Milan services will be introduced.